Books
By Anthony Isibor
IT was an afternoon of nostalgia, reflection and celebration as friends, colleagues and admirers gathered in Lagos for the official presentation of Beyond Expectations – A Memoir, authored by veteran journalist, editor and administrator, Yakubu Mohammed.
In his own remarks, Mohammed said that he stood by everything written in the 27-chapter memoir, except one detail.
“Everything in the book is true,” he said with a smile. “Except my date of birth. April 4, 1950, which I chose by myself .”
That confession set the tone for what became an inspiring afternoon of recollection, faith and tribute to a man whose life and career have mirrored Nigeria’s journalistic evolution.
Delivering the official review, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, and columnist, described “Beyond Expectations” as a spiritual odyssey shaped by faith, family and providence.”
He said the memoir combines literary depth with moral clarity, drawing parallels between its title and Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
“When I first saw the title, what came to my mind was Great Expectations,” Olagunju said. “and truly, Beyond Expectations opens a similar philosophical doorway. Every reading reveals a new being a life of trials and triumphs, of disappointments and deliverance, all welded together by faith and an unbending moral spine.”
Olagunju noted that Mohammed’s uncertain birth date symbolises a life guided by destiny rather than documentation.
“For a journalist, that uncertainty feels worthy,” he said. “Where others rely on certificates, Yakubu relied on destiny. Choosing April 4 as his birthday was his way of declaring that life would be authored by will and grace.”
The reviewer drew attention to the book’s powerful opening Mohammed’s miraculous escape from a fire that destroyed his family’s hut when he was a child. His mother’s calm acceptance of the loss, Olagunju said, “sanctified his survival and defined his life.”
“His mother, who lost everything, said, ‘I have not lost anything. Yakubu is my all.’ That declaration became a covenant of protection that followed him throughout his life,” he said.
Olagunju traced Mohammed’s journey through obstacles from being denied school admission for refusing to renounce his faith, to surviving a hail of bullets in 2005 experiences that deepened his moral conviction and faith in divine providence.
“From those ashes and near tragedies, Yakubu rose to the pinnacle of Nigerian journalism, from National Concord to Newswatch, and later as Pro-Chancellor of two federal universities,” Olagunju said.
He praised the memoir’s accessibility, structure and grace.
“Through all his struggles, Yakubu never lost his serenity. He laughs at the absurdities of power and bureaucracy and prays through pain with quiet grace. His story reminds us that integrity is not a luxury, it is a discipline,” Olagunju observed.
Olagunju summed the review as he declared: “From the burnt hut of his childhood to the bright pages of history, Yakubu Mohammed’s life proves that destiny may divide, but character unites. His story truly goes beyond expectations.”
As the event continued, several goodwill messages from colleagues, associates and family members followed, painting a portrait of the author as a disciplinarian, a generous mentor and a tireless worker, whose commitment to excellence remains unmatched.
Many speakers described him as “a man of conviction and compassion,” whose dedication to journalism and public service inspired generations of professionals.
A.I
Nov. 4th, 2025
Tags: Dr. Lasisi Olagunju Yakubu Mohammed
